Our lives came from our Creator.

Our liberty comes from our Creator.

It has nothing to do with government granting it.

~Ron  Paul

Spiritual Disciplines

"And excercise thyself rather unto godliness." I Timothy 4:7b

I'm reading, once again, Spritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney.  I first read the book two and a half years ago.  I didn't make it all the way through it then, but what I read was so worth it.  Later, I picked it up again, re-read and again benefited but did not complete the book.  Tonight all is quiet in my home and I've yet again read the first chapter.  I've been blessed once again.

God's grace simply amazes me over and over again.  To think that he continues to love me as I continue to falter and fail, never ceases to put me in awe!  All because of Jesus and his blood that covers me.

What do I want out of my life?  Am I daily moving toward that goal.  Am I the person I want to be?  Who am I?  I've been pondering these questions heavily lately.  And God has been so good to give me peace, rest and answers.  At the very top, most of all, I want to be like Jesus.

I want to journal here what I learn as I plow through the Spiritual Disciplines book.  The following quotes come from the first chapter of the book.

Tom Landry, coach of the Dallas Cowboys football team for most of three decades, said, "The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don't want to do in order to achieve what they've always wanted to be."  In much the same way, Christians are called to make themselves do something they would not naturally do--pursue the Spiritual Disciplines--in order to become what they've always wanted to be, that is, like Jesus Christ.

Discipline without direction is drudgery.  

(For me vision is key!  Vision will keep me going when I've run out of energy.  It gives hope!  Sunday's sermon was so good.  I Chronicles 4:10, "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!  And God granted him that which he requested.")

The Spiritual Disciples are the God-given menas we are to use in the Spirit-filled pusuit of Godliness.

(In this book he covers: Bible intake, prayer, worship, evangelism, service, stewardship, fasting, selence and solitude, journaling, and learning.  But he also mentions that there are many more such as: confession, accountablitiy, simplicity, submission, spiritual direction, celebration, affirmation, sacrifice, and "watching". )

Godly people are disciplined people.

Learning and following involve discipline, for those who only learn accidentally and follow incidentally are not true disciples.

He says of many Christians, "They have dabbled in everything but disciplined themselves in nothing.

(Ouch!!!)

I've never read anything by William Barclay but Donald Whitney quotes him as saying, "Nothing was ever achieved without discipline:.."  Barclay goes on to talk of Coleridge and says of him, "He lost himself in visions of work to be done, that always remained to be done." (This is why it is best that my life remains simple.  My mind can easily become overwhelmed and I can become almost paralyed as to what to do next.  Simplicity brings me clarity of thought and a calm that I cherish.)  Barclay also said, "No one ever reached any eminence, and no one having reached it ever maintained it, without discipline."

"Freedom and discipline have come to be regarded as mutually exclusive, when in fact freedom is not at all the oppostie, but the final reward, of discipline." ~ Elizabeth Elliot

A new Bible verse

While putting Zeke down for his nap, he was reciting some of Bible verses for me. He recited his new one this way...."All we like sheep, have gone to the fair." :)

The Charm of Simple Things

My side yard in the morning.

A sweet friend game me this book. She's the kind of friend you can never out give. She is constantly doing so much that it is impossible to "pay her back". She's a mentor to me, a real live mentor. What a blessing! In my homeschooling journey most of my mentors have been online friendships. Women, who I've never met, except at my keyboard, who have taken the time to invest in my life. I'll be forever grateful to those few who have shared their wisdom with me. And now God has blessed me with an "older woman" to encourage, admonish, and, yes, correct me!

My mom has always been there for me. I can't even begin to describe all the ways she has invested in my life. And I realize more every day the heritage that I have been given. It's in me. It's who I am, because of all the hours that she and my dad spent with me. It comes from the home she built for us, the food we cooked together, the clothes she sewed for us, the games we played together. And the list goes on and on. Some things are just part of my fiber. I don't remember learning them. But now I have friends who are learning these things as adults, I don't mean cooking and cleaning, I mean all the lessons my mom taught me as we were cooking, cleaning and playing, just going about our every day lives. And then I realize so much has been given to me by my parents. The life we lived together was a simple life! And I'm so glad.

I found several quotes in book The Charm of Simple Things that I want to take note of.

"You will be surprised by how much of an adventure can enter into ordinary things."
Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Most of us, if we are honest with ourselves, will admit that we live too fast, too erratically, too crudely, and too thoughtlessly. The remedy or antidote for all of this is to live gently."
W. Phillip Keller
Taming Tension

"Simplicity is not just another interior design option. It is also one of the great expressions of Christian faith. Simplicity is devoting our lives to one thing and one thing only--to loving the Lord our God with our whole being and our neighbors as ourselves."
Harriet Crosby
A Place Called Home

Duties~our joy

No unread emails in your It is wholly impossible to live according to Divine order, and to make a proper application of heavenly principles, as long as the necessary duties which each day brings seem only like a burden grievous to be borne. Not till we are ready to throw our very life's love into the troublesome little things can we be really faithful in that which is least and faithful also in much. Every day that dawns brings something to do, which can never be done as well again. We should, therefore, try to do it ungrudgingly and cheerfully. It is the Lord's own work, which He has given us as surely as He gives us daily bread. We should thank Him for it with all our hearts, as much as for any other gift. It was designed to be our life, our happiness. Instead of shirking it or hurrying over it, we should put our whole heart and soul into it. --James Reed

This quote really blesses my heart, speaks to me. And when I live this way I'm truly content and happy. I feel I experience true joy. I'd much rather enjoy the simple joys of the day to day than live to be ready for the next big adventure. This week (so far) has been one of those weeks. It's a "Grace Week" after being back to our studies for 7 weeks already!. We are still learning a lot but just not while doing our normal lesson routine. We've done extra cleaning, some yard work, odd jobs for the neighbor, etc. Today we made a huge pot of pear butter and also a quart of yummy pear syrup. This afternoon we whipped up a batch of no-bake cookies and decorated a container so that we can deliver them to our neighbor later this evening. Oh, and we've flown kites! It's been perfect weather for successful kite flying and I'm so glad we've taken the time to enjoy it.

I first read this quote in an article in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. Today it appeared in my inbox from Crosswalk.

America Frugal Housewife

I found the cookbook Old Sturbridge Village Cookbook at the library and found it quite interesting. It is a reprint/re-do for modern times of the cook book The American Frugal Housewife first written in 1829 by Lydia Maria Child. There is a lot of history bound up in this little book. But I really love the opening quote and went to bed pondering how I could benefit my household if I worked to apply it more diligently.

"The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost."

The original book gave advice on efficiently running the home, which I wish were included in this book. Instead this book just focuses on the recipes.

I was thinking of our simple supper last night, which really did not require a ton of food, yet was nutritious and delicious. We had chicken breast with a simple stir-fry containing one Japanese eggplant, an orange and red bell pepper, 4 small okra, and a handful of chopped sweet onion. This made up plenty of vegetables for our family of 6, with just enough left over for someone's lunch today. That's not a ton of food and I can probably easily get that from my garden every day for the next month.....just thinking.

I realize many are having tough financial times right now. But it seems there is still so much waste. We've tightened our belt in a few areas but we still aren't using every morsel......if I don't get the produce preserved that is setting in my kitchen, it won't mean that we'll go without a meal tomorrow. Times don't appear to be like they were during the Depression, (thankfully).

On Captain John Smith....

Our school days have resumed....

As I was reading to the children today I ran across this paragraph that I found to be good advice for any leader. I can apply it to my life.

From the book "This Country of Ours" by H.E. Marshall:

"Many of the unruly sort were glad to see him (John Smith) go, but his old companions with whom he had shared so many dangers and privations were filled with grief. "He ever hated baseness, sloth, pride and indignity," said one of them. "He never allowed more for himself than for his soldiers with him. Upon no danger would he send them where he would not lead them himself. He would never see us want what he either had or could by any means get us. He loved action more than words, and hated falsehood and covetousness worse than death."

When I'm a daddy....

I will eat Panekokan every day, and pancakes, and macaroni and cheese, and an apple and cucumbers. ~ Zeke

"Mommy, when I grow up I want to marry you!" ~ Zeke

Zeke is really wanting to get married at a wedding. A friend of ours recently got married in a park and apparently Zeke really enjoyed the whole celebration. He also recently realized that he needs a wife to have a baby and he really wants a baby.

More quotes and blog links

The purpose of compulsory education is to deprive the common people of their common sense.

--G.K. Chesterton

I found the above quote at Morningside Family. Laura has some great posts and check out the links on her side bars too.

"You are only as wise as your next decision. You prove your wisdom in what you choose today."
--Joshua Harris

And this quote I found at Plain Ol' Vanilla,
who I must say makes some of the most gorgeous quilts I've ever seen. Also, I believe she truly possesses God's wisdom. And so over the years as I've visited with her, I pay close attention to her words, because I view them as words of wisdom.

Another Quote

I find that I enjoy posting little snippets of information on my blog that I don't want to forget. Today, while doing laundry and general cleaning, I've been listening to Crazy Love by Francis Chan and I've been challenged. It's free to download this month at Christian Audio.

Here's another quote I quickly grabbed pencil to copy down, "How we live our days is how we live our lives." ~ Annie Dillard

Now, I'm ready to fill out the annual homeschool forms that we are required by law to submit to our local public school superintendent. Doing this makes the new school year seem very close. But that o.k., exactly when does it end? Zeke sleeps. The rest of the kids are all water coloring.....art class is in full swing. :)

Quotes

"Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually." ~ David Getts

"There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day." ~ Martin Luther

Sweet words.....

"You are my mommy so much!"
~Zeke

Post 200

This is my 200th post. This is what's on my heart today.....

It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it. -G.Washington

A few Quotes

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. ~ Abraham Lincoln

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. ~ Ronald Reagan

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Daniel Boone

I find our current read-aloud, Daniel Boone by James Daugherty, quite fascinating, as do my children. Here's a couple quotes:

Being good members of the Quaker faith, the Boone family gave and took among themselves and their neighbors with an easy kindness that brought a quiet sweetness to the stress and strain of heavy tasks. Out of the ponderous Bible they daily read and listened and believed, striving to walk with a wise and gentle God in love and truth.

Father and Mother Boone with their eleven children were an average-sized American family of that day.....

A couple quotes about mathematics

I was spending some time this afternoon reviewing the new level of math that Kiersten will be starting this week. Kiersten and I have been using Right Start Mathematics this year and loving it. I say "Kiersten and I" because this is definitely NOT a curriculum that allows you to send the child off to do a worksheet. So far this year she maybe has done 10 worksheets. This aspect appeals strongly to me! I love the interaction we are having as we are making some wonderful memories together. This curriculum also uses math games heavily. Micah is happy to play these with Kiersten and they even request to play some of the games when they are not required to. What a plus!

Under the page titled "Some General Thoughts on Teaching Mathematics", Joan Cotter says, "The only students who like flash cards are those who don't need them."

Joan Cotter has spent time examining the Asian way of teaching mathematics. She lists some of the differences between their approach to education in general and the way we approach it. I'll quote a couple that stuck out to me.

"I first grade teacher has the same status as a university professor. If a student falls behind, the family, not the school, helps the child or hires a tutor. Students often attend after-school classes."

And....

"Asians and Europeans believe anyone can learn mathematics or even play the violin. It is not a matter of talent, but of good teaching and hard work."

Robert Frost

Nathan has been reading Robert Frost's poetry for the past 12 weeks. He chose the poem "Walking by Woods on a Snowy Evening" to memorize. Just today, I finished reading aloud to the children Robert Frost: America's Poet by Doris Faber, Illustrated by Paul Frame.

We learned that Robert's dad loved to go on long nature walks with his son, up and down the hills of San Fransisco. Before the age of eleven, when Robert's father died of tuberculosis, Robert nor his sister ever attended school. His father liked to say, "There's no need to coop him up in some unhealthy schoolroom." And when Robert had children of his own he chose to keep his children at home and traveling with him, also. All throughout Robert's life, we noticed that he sought out nature and solitude. He would continually go from times mingling with people to needing times of solitude, manual labor, and hours with nature. I had to wonder how much those early days of trekking with his father must have influenced his life!

Robert Frost, later in life, taught college English classes. I found his teaching style so interesting, quite unconventional! While he ruffled the feathers of other professors, he was often a favorite teacher with the students.

Mr. Frost was the first to speak at an Inaugural Address, invited by President Kennedy. At his death two years later,

President Kennedy spoke for all of his fellow countrymen: "He had promises to keep and miles to go, and now he sleeps."

I've been reminded, once again, of the power of "living" books! Some of my children have been inspired to write a bit more than normal this week. The writing did not come from an assignment that I dreamed up, but it came from the feelings and thoughts of their hearts. I love it when this happens. It's beautiful and it's the kind of education that Robert Frost thought most valuable!

Influance of Attitude

This past year I've become friends with a lady who seems to always be positive in her attitude toward life. I don't mean to say that she portrays her life as being perfect but that she chooses to look at life with joy and hope. Not only is she positive about her own life but she bestows praise freely on those around her. Many times over the past year she has been a breath of fresh air to me. I want to cultivate this characteristic in my own life.

As I was thinking of having a positive attitude I ran across this about teaching reading to a struggling learning and I think it applies to many area of parenting, life, and education:

Limit struggle. Limit failure. Praise success. Keep your energy level high. Keep surprising him. Keep him laughing and giggling. Happy people learn faster. Have fun. He will take his cues about attitude from you. (from Joyce Herzog)

"Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God."
~William Carey

Emily Dickinson Quote

He ate and drank the precious words.
His spirit grew robust;
He knew no more that he was poor,
Nor that his frame was dust.
He danced along the dingy days,
And this bequest of wings
Was but a book. What liberty
A loosened spirit brings!